Top Ten Short Break Ferry Destinations for 2013

Not every one has access to their own super yacht so for the opportunities for a quick getaway break by sea are at times limited.

Here are just a few ideas of the top selling short break destinations s hort ferry hop away. Some of these places may not seem on the surface to be a destination in themselves, more of a gateway – but many sea lovers are choosing the ports as great places for an easy trip abroad.  So in no particular order here is the top ten:

St.Malo – access with Brittany Ferries

A lovely spot on the Brittany coast, St.Malo has a walled old town and leisure harbour and is packed with some of the best eateries in the area, particularly if you like oysters. Once an island, the town was once home to the corsairs that ran the coastline in these parts. Places to visit include the castle, the cathedral and the tomb of Chateaubriand, the man who invented steak frites!

Dublin – access with Stena Line, P&O and Irish Ferries

A capital city that never disappoints, Dublin is fun, full of surprises, delightful and decadent. It always packs a punch and there is always something new to do and see. Whether it is Molly Malone or Oscar Wilde, you’ll find them in Dublin. The place has been transformed in recent years with new buildings and reconstructions. One thing that never changes is the Irish hospitality (and the Guinness!)

Guernsey – access with Condor Ferries

Often described as the prettiest of the Channel Islands, Guernsey is great as it can be a fabulous choice for a short break or even a day trip. St.Peter’s Port, the capital, is beautiful and the harbour very picturesque. If you love seafood this is the place to go as the restaurants are second to none.  Victor Hugo is said to have written some of his finest work whilst in exile on Guernsey. Did you know their telephone boxes and pillar boxes are blue?

Bilbao – access with Brittany Ferries

In the heart of the Basque country, Bilbao makes a great short break destination whether for a cultural extravaganza taking in the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and a symphony at the Concert Hall or perhaps for the ‘Semana Grande’ – the amazing festival that takes place the first week of August.  Did you know that Sir Norman Foster designed the metro network in Bilbao?

Dieppe – access with Transmanche Ferries/LD Lines

Dieppe is popular for its pebbly beach and traditional port as well as its quaint old town, despite having suffered greatly in the war.  The fifteenth century castle is definitely worth a visit as are the colourful markets.  Did you know that a specialty of Dieppe is scallops?

Dunkirk – access with DFDS Seaways

Lying just 10 kilometres from the Belgian border, head north from Flemish Dunkirk for a short holiday in Belgium, or go south to visit the famous D-Day Landing beaches. Otherwise Dunkirk itself makes for an interesting stay. A must is the Port Museum and the Fine arts Museum too. Did you know that Dunkirk has the third largest harbour in France?

Amsterdam - access with DFDS Seaways

Renowned for its diversity and tolerant attitude, Amsterdam is more of a classic short break destination.  As capital and the largest city in Holland it has much to offer from cultural icons such as the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum to wonderful shopping experiences.  Amsterdam is famous for such diverse items as sneakers and lingerie, bridal wear to skate-wear. Cycle or cruise the canals, visit the nearby bulb-fields or one of the famous cafes. Did you know that Amsterdam has the oldest stock exchange in the world?

Belfast – access with Stena Line

Since the end of The Troubles, Belfast has been totally transformed into a vibrant modern city popular for short break holidays. Belfast means ‘Mouth of the sandbanks’ and her history is linked to the sea – particularly to the shipping industry. The great Harland and Wolf shipyards were famous for building the Titanic and the city’s most recent acquisition has been the opening of the Titanic Museum. Famous sons include George Best, Frank Carson, Alex Higgins, Van Morrison but did you know that Belfast was where Swift found inspiration to write ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ when he lived there in Lilliput Cottage on Limestone Road?

Esbjerg – access with DFDS Seaways

A relatively ‘new’ city, Esbjerg was only created in 1868. It was once Denmark’s principal fishing port and was twice voted Danish city of the year, the last time for supporting so much local young talent.  Did you know that the city’s speedway team were Danish National Champions in 2012?

Booking

AFerry.co.uk is an on-line ferry brand, which features real-time comparison technology for ferries, generating over 55 million unique visitors per year and over 3,000 bookings per day.

It is not just for travel to and from the UK, this handy site covers European routes too – over 1,200 ferry routes connecting more than 80 ferry operators.

There is a www.AFerry.co.uk app for iPhone and Android.

We Are Going Canal Cruising Again in the South of France

Check out where we are going to be cruising this September

We have over the years become somewhat of an authority when it comes to writing about self drive canal boat hire around Europe having written for:

• Motor Boat and Yachting
• Motor Boat Monthly
• Decanter
• and several others

We have hired canal boats in the north, south and even the middle of France and each time, have enjoyed the experience immensely.  We have even hired a boat and cruised the canals around Venice!

Now we are off to cruise the Canal du Midi again which is perhaps one of our favourites.

This time, we shall be using a boat in the Nicols fleet.  This French based company has an armada of handsome looking vessels and our Estivale Octo is one of their newest boats.

The design takes all of the best bits from their existing Sedan and Confort series of boats and then adds more.

The large aft terrace, so popular on the Sedan series, is on the same deck level as the lounge area.

In addition to the stern gates, two extra side gates provide easy access to the terrace from either side of the boat - great for when mooring.

The galley provides a high standard of equipment and the cabins and shower rooms are spacious and comfortable.

A stairway moulded into the hull provides easy access to the flying bridge where the bridge controls fold away neatly for additional space and comfort.

It seems to us to be perfect for outdoor living, forward, the bow terrace (a success of the Confort range) provides extra outside space for enjoying snacks or lunches while the aft terrace has a sun awning, table and chairs, a shower and even a bathing ladder for those of us tempted to swim!

From what we can see, the Estivale range is without doubt the smartest way to travel the waterways.

We are even adding a heated splash pool, a Nicols exclusive, just so the little ones have something safe to play in.

Watch out for our updates as we cruise the canals again

Using the Chopper? Don't Forget to Book the Parking!

If you are planning on visiting Tim Heywood to discuss the designs of your next super yacht then take a few extra days to really enjoy the experience.  Not only does Tim work in a wonderful and most pretty part of England but the nearby country house hotel of Hambleton Hall is just somewhere you need to stay at.

The hotel is indeed a country house and it has that feel about it.  Like all well run super yachts it is the crew that turn it from good to perfection and that is exactly the same with this hotel.

Telephone ahead to book and make sure the helipad is free or you may not be allowed to land.  believe it or not there can be a helicopter parking problem if you do not book ahead.

Stay the night, savour the peace and tranquility.  Wake up in the morning and throw open the windows and breath in the clean fresh air and let your eyes drink in the stunning views the bedrooms offer over Rutland Water.

The restaurant is justifiably proud of its one Michelin Star and I have to say if I were handing them out I would throw them an couple!  Food and wine were superb and wonderfully matched.

Lets hope we get another editor keen to commission us to interview Tim Heywood it would give us the perfect excuse to return.  But come to think of it, who needs an excuse I think we shall just go back anyway!

Visiting Hambleton Hall Hotel

We are off to interview Tim Heywood perhaps one of the worlds most prolific super yacht stylists.  He lives and works in Rural Rutland.

The journey from our own rural retreat in the New Forest will take us nearly four hours which is too far to go and come back from in one day if we are to do an in depth interview so we will be staying over night in Hambleton Hall.

This is one of Britain’s finest country house hotels and one that will find favour with super yacht owners who want to visit Heywood on his home turf.

The lakeside setting is spectacular and only some two and a half hours north of central London (England). The restaurant is a haven for gourmets and wine lovers and the rooms combine comfort and style.

It was built in 1881 as a hunting box by Walter Marshall a man whose fortune was derived from a brewery business of the same name, but he came to Rutland to enjoy the fox hunting.

He did so at a time when the area was the Mecca of fox hunting, rather like St. Tropez is today for super yacht owners.

The house provided an ideal base for hunting with the Cottesmore, Quorn, Belvoir or Fernie hounds and participation in the intensive social activities centred on outlying estates and houses.

He left his house to his younger sister Eva Cooper. Although she started life as a keen devotee of the chase, from the age of 50 onwards she presided over a salon of bright young things including Noel Coward, Malcolm Sargent and Charles Scott Moncrieff.

After her death, Lord Trent, Dr. Brockbank and Major and Mrs. Hoare enjoyed the house in their turn until the 1970′s.

It was transformed into a small hotel and restaurant for discriminating diners in 1979/80.

Watch out for our review of this stunning hotel.

Walking in Downtown Dubai is for Freaks

One of the reasons a freelance journalist chooses an hotel in which to stay is its closeness to the location he is reporting on.  In my case the Dubai International Boat show.

I was told it was a ten minute walk away and indeed so it could be!

But nothing in Dubai is what it seems to be!  Twixt hotel and venue there are some 470 building sites.  Sorry, correct that, since I started typing, another one has sprung up, make that 471!


Each has deep, trench like excavations filled with equipment and hundreds of cheaply imported labourers and each has erected what they call pedestrian access areas.

These are long,  meandering walkways designed to keep you safe and extend the walking distance you would normally require by at least 800%.  There is no guide to show you how to get where you are going and there is no point in learning a route through the maze because tomorrow it will change.

Clearly the quickest way is to climb to the top of the nearest hotel tower block spread your cape and fling yourself off to glide swiftly down into the show ground.

The alternative is to take a taxi, with the traffic and road works the 10 minute walk is just an hour away by taxi.

We flew to Dubai with Emirates Airlines aboard their Airbus A380 and stayed at the Media One Hotel

Hip, Funky, Trendy and Ever so Groovey!

In a part of Dubai there is an area called Media City.  Named for no good reason other than free lance journalists rent desk space in the area,  it is a dollop of high rise tower blocks that overlook the marina at Mina Seyahi home of the Dubai Boat Show.

Among the sprawl of high rise towers, many hotels via for business each trying to attract a different audience.  One such is the Media One Hotel which endeavors to sell itself to the Uber Kool.  Using names such as Hip, Cool  and Urban it gives the rooms it offers different names to indicate their standard.

It tries to be trendy and succeeds with embarrassing success.  The airport transfers are carried out using Mini Coopers at twice the price of a regular Toyota taxi and the documentation in the rooms is, in a groovy sort of way, reminiscent of Austin Powers movies.

Designed for the young rich things who flock to Dubai to spend Daddy's money it makes anyone over 20 feel old and over 25 ancient!  The receptionist took my passport at check in, noticed my date of birth and allocated me fossil status.

Occupying floors 10 to 19 in the 43 Storey tower block it is never the less an efficient place to stay.  Clean, tidy with adequate facilities this is not meant to be the place to take someone for a romantic weekend romp but it is very useful for those who visit the boat show each year if only because it is walking distance from the show entrance.

We flew to Dubai with Emirates Airlines aboard their Airbus A380

My New Favourite Airline

OK I admit it, I am smitten with the new airbus 380 and,when operated by Emirates, it's my new favourite way to move around the skies.

Flying to the Dubai International Boat show, I boarded this big beastie in London's Heathrow Airport.

My mission is to report about the show and the Middle East in particular for some of the world's better yachting magazines and national newspapers.

Even though I am flying in third class ( I don't think they call it that!) I am impressed.  Adequate legroom, edible food, free drinks, good movies, comfortable enough seats and even Internet access while you fly.  What more do you want?

OK, OK flat bed seats and a never empty champagne bucket would be nice but hang on there, I am a travel journalist who writes about super yachts and I have learned to accept that the upgrade once given to us all as a professional courtesy has well and truly bitten the dust.

So there you go, despite them not giving me a free ticket nor indeed upgrading me, I would still like to give my vote to Emirates and the staff that serve on board their airplanes.

I think they are worth it!